Cholesterol Education Month: How to Create a Fall Family Fitness Plan

It's never too early to develop healthy lifestyle habits that will reduce harmful cholesterol levels, but maintaining an active lifestyle can be difficult without support. So why not involve your family? Exercising with your family gives you all the chance to get outside and become closer while getting and staying healthy. Below, we've got eight ways that can stay fit with your family!

1. Body Weight Exercises

The foundation of most workout routines, these are exercises that require little to no equipment, instead relying on your own weight to create resistance. They can help build strength and improve balance, coordination, and endurance without requiring a gym membership or exercise machine. You can perform them anywhere you have space in your home, and any equipment you use is optional. You can also use household objects to change up your routine; for instance, many people use a dining room bench or even a coach armrest to provide an incline to vary up exercises.

There are many different body weight exercises, but some of the most common include pushups, lunges, Burpees, planks, and crunches. Take a look online and you'll be sure to find a workout that meets your needs!

2. Yoga

It's easy to characterize yoga as a stretching routine, but it's an endlessly adaptable form of exercise that can meet your needs regardless of age or fitness level. Those looking for a gentle stretching exercise can approach yoga from that perspective while those who want a more vigorous, cardio-focused workout can speed up the pace and even incorporate moves from other body weight exercises to increase intensity. YouTube and other streaming sites are full of yoga routines by experienced teachers, so take a look to find something that fits your experience level and fitness needs!

3. Walking and Hiking

Even with more people getting vaccinated, it's probably best to avoid crowded, indoor locations right now -- mall walking would usually be a common suggestion, especially for older adults -- but that's a great excuse to take advantage of the beauty of autumn! Nature trails are still available for you to hike on, and if you have a dog you have plenty of opportunities to go on walks around the neighborhood. Grab your family and go witness the changing leaves up close!

4. Run a Family 5K

Fall is a great time for running! Many organizations take advantage of the cool weather and lovely scenery to hold races, runs, and walks in the fall. With lengths ranging from kid-friendly kilometer runs to 5K and even 14K races, it's easy to find a distance that suits your family's fitness and experience levels. Many of these runs and walks are for charitable organizations, so your family can support a valuable cause while staying fit and having fun!

5. Outdoor Sports

If you're in the mood for something more high-impact than a walk, spring offers plenty of opportunities for activity. Not just running or jogging, but cycling, skating, and skateboarding all provide opportunities to move. If you live in a warm enough area, swimming may be possible even this early in the season. It's also possible to compete in sports like tennis and golf while maintaining social distancing!

6. Family Games

Exercise doesn't always have to be structured! You can burn just as many calories having fun with your family by hiking or cycling together. Your family can play sports together like baseball, basketball, flag football, and soccer, or play lawn games like tag, cornhole or ladder toss. If you're in the mood for freeform fun, you can hula hoop, jump rope, or even dance! You can get the benefits of a full workout but while spending time with the people you love (as well as having too much fun to notice all the work you're putting in).

7. Yard Work

If you own a home, the work you're already doing is getting you in shape! Cleaning up the yard takes a lot of work and a lot of movement, making it a great exercise option that's also productive. Raking, pushing a mower, and digging can work out all your major muscle groups, especially if you follow these tips on how to approach yard work like an exercise routine. Fall in particular offers a lot of chances to rake leaves, which can be a great upper-body workout.

8. Mountain Ice to Help You Stay Active Longer

If you need help keeping up with your family, Mountain Ice is here to help you move and feel better! No matter what your activity level is, we've got a Mountain Ice variety that will help relieve your aches and pains and let you enjoy being active:

• Pain Relief Gel: The perfect blend of rich ingredients formulated to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, improve circulation, and promote better nerve and joint healing.
• Sports Recovery Gel: Our unique formula relieves pain, reduces swelling, prevents muscle spasms, and speeds up recovery from exertion, while enhancing performance and longevity.